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The objective of this study was to conduct antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activity studies with methanolic extract of rhizomes of Kaempferia rotunda, a plant used in folk medicines of Bangladesh for treatment of high blood sugar level and pain. Antihyperglycemic activity studies were conducted in glucoseloaded mice in oral glucose tolerance tests. Mice were given various doses of extract, followed by glucose (2g/kg body weight), 60 min after administration of extract. Serum glucose levels were measured 120 minutes after glucose administration. Antinociceptive activity studies were conducted in intraperitoneally acetic acid injected mice through measurement of reductions in abdominal writhings caused by acetic acid-induced gastric pain. Following a period of 1 h after oral administration of various doses of extract, all mice received intraperitoneal injection of 1% acetic acid at a dose of 10 mL/kg body weight. To ensure bio-availability of acetic acid, a period of 5 min was given to each animal following which period the number of writhing times was counted for 10 min. The extract caused dose-dependent significant lowering in serum glucose levels in mice (P<0.05), when administered at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight to glucose-loaded mice as compared to control animals. Highest lowering of serum glucose (39.6%) was observed at an extract dose of 400 mg. In comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, lowered serum glucose levels by 42.4%. The extract also demonstrated dose-dependent significant antinociceptive activity (P<0.05), when administered to mice compared to control animals. At a dose of 400 mg extract per kg body weight, the number of abdominal writhings was inhibited by 69.4% as compared to 73.4% inhibition obtained with a standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, administered at a dose of 400 mg per kg body weight. The significant antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activity demonstrated by the extract validates the use of rhizomes of K. rotunda in folk medicines of Bangladesh for treatment of high blood sugar levels as commonly observed in diabetic patients, and pain, and merits further scientific studies leading to identification of relevant bioactive constituents.

Mimosa pigra is widely used in folk medicinal systems of Bangladesh to lower blood sugar in diabetic patients and for treatment of pain. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive potential of methanolic extract of Mimosa pigra stems, respectively, through oral glucose tolerance tests in glucose-loaded Swiss albino mice and intraperitoneally acetic acid injected gastric pain mouse model. Oral administration of the extract at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight led to dosedependent significant reductions in the levels of blood glucose in glucose-loaded mice. At these four doses, the extract reduced the concentrations of glucose in blood by, respectively, 37.84, 39.83, 42.39 and 50.50%. A standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, reduced blood glucose level by 56.33%, thus demonstrating that the extract at least at the highest dose of 400 mg, possessed comparable antihyperglycemic activity to glibenclamide. In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract also dose-dependently and significantly, caused reductions in the number of gastric writhings arising from gastric pain in mice as a result of intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. The percent reductions in the number of writhings at extract doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight were, respectively, 70.01, 74.96, 77.51 and 85.01. The antinociceptive activity of the extract was more potent than that of a standard antinociceptive drug aspirin, which when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 37.48 and 59.97%, respectively. The almost complete alleviation of gastric pain by the extract at the highest dose of 400 mg per kg body weight strongly suggests that the extract may be further investigated for isolation of possibly novel pain-killing components. At the same time, the results obtained in the present study, validates the use of this plant by folk medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh for treatment of high blood sugar levels in diabetic patients as well as pain. The results highlight the importance of close observation of traditional medicinal practices along with pharmacological activity studies on the materials used in such practices towards discovery of what can be more efficacious drugs.

The leaves of Piper betle L. (Piperaceae) are widely chewed in Bangladesh as betel quid with or without tobacco. Chewing of leaves of the plant is advised by the folk medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh to alleviate pain (particularly toothache) and lowering of blood sugar, as well as aid the digestive process. The objective of this study was to scientifically evaluate the folk medicinal practitioner’s claims of the antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive properties of Piper betle leaves. Antihyperglycemic activity evaluation was conducted through oral glucose tolerance tests in glucose-loaded Swiss albino mice, while antinociceptive activity tests were performed in gastric pain models in Swiss albino mice, where gastric pain was induced by intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. In antihyperglycemic activity tests, methanolic extract of leaves demonstrated dose-dependent and significant lowering of blood sugar in glucose-challenged mice. At extract doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, prior oral administration of the extract reduced blood sugar levels by 31.01, 34.38, 38.88 and 46.74%, respectively, as compared to control animals. A standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when orally administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight lowered blood glucose levels by 46.07%. As such, the results strongly indicate that leaves of the plant possess potent antihyperglycemic properties. In antinociceptive activity tests, the methanolic extract of the leaves significantly and dosedependently reduced the number of gastric writhings in gastric pain-induced mice. At doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg extract per kg body weight, the percent reductions in writhings were, respectively, 47.00, 63.28, 69.40 and 71.48 as compared to control mice. The standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 51.04 and 67.32%, respectively. The extract, therefore, appears to be more potent than aspirin in alleviation of pain. Overall, the results validate the folk medicinal uses of the leaves of this plant and suggest that more scientific researches need to be carried out on isolation and identification of the relevant bioactive components present within the leaves of this plant.

The antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive potential of Tagetes patula stems, a plant used in folk medicines of Bangladesh for treatment of pain, inflammation, cuts and wounds, and lowering of blood sugar were investigated. In antihyperglycemic activity tests conducted with glucose-loaded Swiss albino mice, methanolic extract of stems significantly and dose-dependently reduced blood sugar concentrations. At extract doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight mice, the percent lowering of blood sugar by the extract was, respectively, 47.11, 49.59, 50.62, and 60.02. The results were both dose-dependent and statistically significant. A standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered to glucose-loaded mice, reduced blood sugar level by 60.95%. The results demonstrate that the methanolic extract possesses considerable antihyperglycemic potential, and which is comparable to that of glibenclamide at the highest dose of the extract tested. In antinociceptive activity tests conducted with intraperitoneally administered acetic acid-induced gastric pain model in mice, the extract at the afore-mentioned four doses dose-dependently reduced the number of writhings in mice caused by the gastric pain, respectively, by 36.72, 40.88, 42.84, and 47.00%. The results were statistically significant at the three highest doses of the extract. A standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 48.96 and 67.32%, respectively. The results thus demonstrate also significant antinociceptive potential of stems of the plant. Taken together, the results validate the folk medicinal uses of the plant for treatment of pain and for lowering blood sugar level in diabetic patients.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activity of methanolic extract of leaves of Mimosa pigra, a plant used by folk medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh for lowering of blood sugar in diabetic patients and for the treatment of pain. Antihyperglycemic activity tests were conducted in glucose-loaded Swiss albino mice. The extract at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight mice was observed to significantly and dose-dependently reduce the concentration of blood glucose levels in glucose-loaded mice. At the above four doses, the extract, respectively, lowered blood glucose levels by 32.75, 35.16, 47.59 and 56.82%. A standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight in mice, lowered blood glucose levels by 56.82% thus showing that the highest dose of the extract had equivalent potency to that of glibenclamide in reducing blood glucose levels, and so merits further potential for isolation and identification of responsible phytochemical constituents, which can possibly be used as novel antihyperglycemic drugs. Antinociceptive activity tests were done in gastric pain model mice where gastric pain was induced by intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid, and subsequently the number of gastric pain-induced writhings was counted. The extract was also observed to significantly and dose-dependently reduce the number of gastric writhings. At doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, the extract reduced the number of writhings, respectively, by 27.27, 33.27, 51.45 and 54.55%. In comparison, a standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, reduced the number of writhings, respectively, by 27.27 and 36.36% when administered to mice. Thus dose for dose, the extract was more potent than aspirin in reducing pain. The results not only validate the folk medicinal use of this plant in reducing blood sugar and for alleviation of pain, but also suggests that the plant can be further explored for discovery of possible antihyperglycemic and pain-killing drugs.

Not much has been reported on the medicinal values of pteridophytes (fern and fern allies). Yet, a number of ferns are used in folk medicinal system and by various tribes of the Indian sub-continent (inclusive of Bangladesh) for medicinal purposes. Christella dentata is one such fern used by the folk medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh for treatment of diabetes (to lower high blood sugar levels) and for treatment of pain. It was of interest to determine whether folk medicinal uses of this fern species can be validated through modern scientific methods. Accordingly, antihyperglycemic activity evaluation of methanolic extract of whole fern was carried out through oral glucose tolerance tests in glucose-loaded Swiss albino mice. In parallel, antinociceptive activity of methanolic extract of whole ferns was evaluated in gastric pain model Swiss albino mice, where gastric pain was induced by intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. The methanolic extract, in antihyperglycemic activity evaluation experiments, demonstrated dose-dependent significant lowering of blood sugar levels when orally administered to glucose-challenged mice at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight. At these doses, the extract significantly lowered blood sugar levels by 48.02, 49.44 and 54.52%, respectively, when compared to control mice (i.e. mice administered vehicle only). The results obtained from the extract compare favorably with the result obtained with a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, which when administered orally at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, lowered blood sugar levels by 52.40%. In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight lowered the number of gastric pain-induced writhings in mice by 42.84, 47.00, 48.96 and 51.04%, respectively. The reduction in the number of gastric writhings was both dose-dependent and statistically significant. By comparison, a standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, reduced the number of writhings in mice by 51.04 and 67.32%, respectively, when orally administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight. The results not only validates the folk medicinal use of this plant for lowering of blood sugar and alleviation of pain, but also suggests that fern species should not be overlooked in the quest for discovery of newer and more efficacious drugs.

Bangladesh has a number of traditional medicinal systems among which folk medicinal practitioners constitute the majority and who can be found practicing in virtually every village, town and city of the country. Bangladesh also has over a hundred different tribes scattered throughout the country, who have their own tribal medicinal practitioners. Some of these tribes have maintained their unique cultural traditions, while others are in various stages of assimilation with the mainstream Bengali-speaking population. The common feature between folk medicinal and tribal medicinal practitioners is that both groups rely on medicinal plants as the major ingredient in their medicinal formulations. The Santals are one of the largest tribes in north-western districts of Bangladesh. While some Santal communities reside in their separate villages apart from the villages of the mainstream population, other Santal communities can be found living among the mainstream population. It was of interest to determine whether such close proximity of living between Santal and non-Santal people have led to mutual exchanges of medicinal information regarding choice of medicinal plants for treatment of common ailments. An ethnomedicinal survey was therefore carried out among a Santal practitioner of Dabidubi village in Dinajpur district, and a mainstream folk medicinal practitioner of Goreya Bazaar village in Thakurgaon district, the two villages being in close proximity. It is to be noted that both villages were inhabited by a heterogeneous population consisting of both people from the Santal tribe as well as mainstream Bengali-speaking people. Altogether 76 formulations were obtained from the two healers, the Santal healer providing 44 formulations and the mainstream folk healer providing 32 formulations. Both healers used medicinal plants as the chief ingredient in their formulations. The Santal healer used a total of 50 plant species in his formulations, while the non-Santal healer used a total of 44 plant species in his formulations. Surprisingly, although many ailments treated by the two healers were in common, the formulation used by the Santal healer differed totally from the non-Santal mainstream healer, even though all plant species used by the two healers could be found in both the villages of their residences. Only one plant species, namely Aegle marmelos, was used in common by both healers as a stomachic and for the treatment of dysentery, but even then the formulations were different. A second plant species, Syzygium cumini, used in common by both healers, were used for treatment of different ailments. The same applied to two other plant species, Nigella sativa and Piper nigrum, which though commonly used by the healers were used in different types of formulations for treatment of different diseases. The results not only suggest that the Santals have their own unique repertoire of medicinal plants but also suggests that despite centuries of living in close proximity to each other, tribal medicinal practitioners and mainstream folk medicinal practitioners have evolved their medicinal plant selections separately and which are clearly distinguishable from each other. The results further highlight the study of traditional healers among all communities and villages of Bangladesh to obtain a comprehensive account of the various medicinal plants used and their purpose of use.

The antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive potential of Colocasia esculenta leaves, a plant used in folk medicines of Bangladesh for treatment of pain, inflammation, and lowering of blood sugar were investigated. In antihyperglycemic activity tests conducted with glucose-loaded Swiss albino mice, methanolic extract of leaves significantly and dose-dependently reduced blood sugar concentrations. At extract doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight mice, the percent lowering of blood sugar by the extract was, respectively, 22.5, 23.8, 25.7, and 35.9. The results were both dose-dependent and statistically significant. A standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered to glucose-loaded mice, reduced blood sugar level by 44.7%. The results demonstrate that the methanolic extract possesses antihyperglycemic potential. In antinociceptive activity tests conducted with intraperitoneally administered acetic acid-induced gastric pain model in mice, the extract at the afore-mentioned four doses dose-dependently reduced the number of writhings in mice caused by the gastric pain, respectively, by 36.4, 57.6, 63.6, and 66.7%. The results were statistically significant at all doses of the extract. A standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 27.3 and 36.4%, respectively. The results thus demonstrate also significant antinociceptive potential of leaves of the plant, which was greater than the higher dose of the standard drug, aspirin, at the three highest doses of the extract tested. Taken together, the results validate the folk medicinal uses of the plant for treatment of pain and for lowering blood sugar level in diabetic patients.

Elephantiasis is a disease prevalent in particularly the northern districts of Bangladesh. The sickness is characterized by thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, which occurs especially in the legs and male genitals. The disease is caused by thread-like parasitic worms, which are transmitted by mosquitoes. Elephantiasis is of two types – that caused by parasitic infection is known as filariasis, while the other type is known as podoconiosis or non-filarial elephantiasis. Folk and tribal medicinal practitioners of the country use medicinal plants for treatment of both forms of elephantiasis. An ethnomedicinal survey was carried out among folk and tribal medicinal practitioners with the objective of documenting the medicinal plants used by the practitioners for treatment of this disease. A total of 15 plants distributed into 13 families were obtained from the various folk medicinal and tribal medicinal practitioners. The practitioners claimed that they use these plants for successful treatment of the disease. Since the rural population of Bangladesh is primarily affected with elephantiasis, it is important that further scientific studies be conducted with these plants, for scientific validation can provide an alternative, cheap and readily available source for treatment of this disease, rather than costly and time-consuming visits to modern health-care doctors and clinics, which are mostly absent in rural Bangladesh.

This experimental design was conducted to establish the effect of organic nutrients for in vitro morphogenesis on callus of Musa sapientum cv Anupam (Family: Musaceae). This cultivar is a well distributed herbaceous flowering plant in Bangladesh and highly favored by the people for its edible parts (fruit, flower and stem) and serves as a regular nutritional supplement in diet for notably carbohydrate, protein, vitamin B, potassium and calcium. The objective of the study was to develop a suitable protocol for callus culture of this species using organic supplements. In vitro generated calluses of this cultivar which were induced from leaf and stem segments were cultured onto Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid [2,4-D] (3mg/L) + 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid [NAA] (0.5mg/L), and was used as experimental plant resource. In vitro grown calluses were sub-cultured on MS medium containing different concentrations of coconut water (CW), casein hydrolysate (CH), biotin (Bn), peptone (Pn), yeast extract (YE) and activated charcoal (AC). The pH of the medium was adjusted at 5.8. The highest average callus index number (CIN) (2.65) was recorded in MS + CW (15%) after 28 days. Colors of induced calluses were varied with respect to different additives. In the MS medium containing 15% coconut water, 100% were greenish and fragile and where 60% were non-embryonic and 70% showed root formation. 90% root formation was observed when MS medium was enriched with 20% CW. Addition of CH (200mg/l) and Bn (0.5mg/l) in MS medium was also found to be effective in promoting callus growth and rhizogenesis in calluses. These observations revealed that morphogenic responses could play a role for physiological studies in vitro and served to develop a suitable composition of medium for callus culture for this species from natural and organic sources.

Amaranthus tricolor whole plants are used by folk medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh for treatment of pain, anaemia, dysentery, skin diseases, diabetes, and as a blood purifier. Thus far, no scientific studies have evaluated the antihyperglycaemic and antinociceptive effects of the plant. The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible glucose tolerance efficacy of methanolic extracts of A. tricolour whole plants using glucose-induced hyperglycaemic mice, and antinociceptive effects with acetic acid-induced gastric pain models in mice. In antihyperglycaemic activity tests, the extract at different doses were administered one hour prior to glucose administration and blood glucose level was measured after two hours of glucose administration (p.o.) using glucose oxidase method. The statistical data indicated the significant oral hypoglycaemic activity on glucose-loaded mice at all doses of the extracts tested. Maximum antihyperglycaemic activity was shown at 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was comparable to that of a standard drug, glibenclamide (10 mg/kg body weight). In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract also demonstrated a dose-dependent significant reduction in the number of writhings induced in mice through intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. Maximum antinociceptive activity was observed at a dose of 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which compared favourably with that of a standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at a dose of 200 mg per kg body weight. The results validate the folk medicinal use of the plant for reduction of blood sugar in diabetic patients as well as the folk medicinal use for alleviation of pain. The results suggest that this plant may possess further potential for scientific studies leading to possible discovery of efficacious antihyperglycaemic and antinociceptive components.

The antinociceptive activity of an Indonesian herbal product named Sendi was evaluated in Swiss albino mice in acetic acid-induced abdominal pain model. The product, when administered to mice at doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of acetic acid-induced gastric constrictions by 33.4, 40.0, 53.4, and 63.4%, respectively. The results were dose-dependent and statistically significant at all doses of the product. In comparison, a standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of gastric constrictions in mice, respectively, by 33.4 and 66.6%. The results suggest that the herbal product is comparable to aspirin in alleviation of pain and validates the use of this product for pain relief.

Beta-glucans are sugars that are found in the cell walls of bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae, lichens, and plants, such as oats and barley. They are polysaccharides of D-glucose monomers linked by beta-glycosidic bonds. Their major use is as a nutraceutical and it has been claimed that these compounds can act as effective immune modulators through boosting the immune system. The most active forms of beta-glucans are those comprising D-glucose units with (1,3) links and with side-chains of D-glucose attached at the (1,6) position. In dietary studies with diabetic rodent models, these compounds have been observed to lower the absorption of glucose and so lead to decreasing blood sugar levels. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic and antinociceptive effects of a commercially available beta-glucan produced from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). In oral glucose tolerance tests with glucose-loaded Swiss albino mice, beta-glucan, administered orally at doses of 30, 60, 120 and 240 mg per kg body weight, inhibited increases in blood sugar levels significantly and dose-dependently. The percent inhibitions at the afore-mentioned four doses were, respectively, 33.5, 35.0, 35.7, and 38.7. In comparison, a standard anti-hyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight inhibited increases in blood sugar levels by 40.0%. As such, the results obtained with the commercial beta-glucan were comparable to that of glibenclamide, at least at the highest dose tested. In antinociceptive activity tests with acetic acid-induced gastric pain model in Swiss albino mice, beta-glucan at the afore-mentioned four doses also significantly and dose-dependently attenuated the number of writhings in mice induced by intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. The percent inhibitions in the number of gastric writhings at the above four doses were, respectively, 36.6, 40.0, 43.4, and 60.0. A standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, reduced the number of writhings by 40.0 and 63.4%, respectively. Thus, the result obtained with beta-glucan at the highest dose was comparable to that of aspirin at the highest dose tested. Together, the results suggest that the commercial beta-glucan used in the present study can be used for both reducing blood sugar in high blood sugar level individuals as well as to alleviate pain.

Phytoremediation is a powerful yet affordable tool for clean-up of various contaminated sites through use of plants. Many plants exist that can not only survive in polluted areas but also hyperaccumulate industrial and domestic pollutants, which can range from heavy metals to oil and grease. Bangladesh is noted for its garment industries, but suffers from the problem of having areas, which are contaminated with textile dye wastes. Such an area exists in Savar of Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. A survey was carried out in the area to search for plants growing within the textile dye-contaminated site with the further objective of determining the phytoremediation capacity of the plants through available database searches. Our survey found 15 plants distributed into 10 families to be growing in the contaminated area. Literature search showed that nearly all the plants have reported phytoremediation capacities, and as such can possibly provide an easy and affordable way to clean up textile dye-contaminated sites.

Purpose: This research explores the intricate relationship between water scarcity and climate change, recognizing their interconnected challenges and the need for resilient strategies. Through a multifaceted approach, the study examines global impacts, socio-economic ramifications, and strategies for mitigation.

Methodology: Using qualitative research methods, diverse perspectives from 40 individuals across various sectors are captured through interviews. Thematic analysis of these insights reveals the nuanced dynamics of the nexus between water scarcity and climate change.

Findings: The results underscore the urgent need for comprehensive understanding and action. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and melting glaciers exacerbate water stress, threatening ecosystems, societies, and economies globally. Socioeconomic implications include reduced agricultural productivity, compromised food security, and increased vulnerability of marginalized communities. Resilient strategies are proposed, including Integrated Water Resource Management, Climate Resilient Infrastructure, and Sustainable Agricultural Practices. Additionally, fostering Community Engagement, Policy Reform, and International Cooperation are vital. Nature-based solutions offer promise in mitigating impacts, while education and awareness-raising efforts are crucial for building resilience.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This research provides a roadmap for addressing the interconnected challenges of water scarcity and climate change, emphasizing the importance of coordinated action and sustained commitment at all levels. By implementing these strategies, we can pave the way for sustainable water management and adaptation to a changing climate, ensuring the well-being of present and future generations.